Hamid Khorassani (; born August 27, 1982), professionally known as Akira Corassani, is a Swedish former professional

mixed martial artist Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

who most recently competed in the

Featherweight Featherweight is a weight class in the combat sports of boxing, kickboxing, mixed martial arts, and Greco-Roman wrestling. Boxing Professional boxing History A featherweight boxer weighs in at a limit of . In the early days of the division, ...

division of the

Ultimate Fighting Championship The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is an American mixed martial arts (MMA) promoter (entertainment), promotion company based in Las Vegas, Nevada. It is owned and operated by TKO Group Holdings, a majority owned subsidiary of Endeavor ( ...

(UFC). A professional MMA competitor since 2007, Corassani has made a name for himself fighting mainly in Western Europe. He was a competitor on

Spike TV Paramount Network is an American basic cable television channel and the flagship property of the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Global, who operates it through the MTV Entertainment Group. The network's headquarters are locate ...

's The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller as a member of Team Bisping.

Background

Corassani was born in

Lund Lund (, ;"Lund"
(US) and ) is a city in the provinces of Sweden, province of Scania, southern Swed ...

, southern Sweden, to an Iranian-Azerbaijani family. His parents moved to Sweden from Iran around 1976. He began

martial arts Martial arts are codified systems and traditions of combat practiced for a number of reasons such as self-defence; military and law enforcement applications; combat sport, competition; physical, mental, and spiritual development; entertainment; ...

when he was six years old,

Shotokan Karate is a style of karate, developed from various martial arts by Gichin Funakoshi (1868–1957) and his son Gigo (Yoshitaka) Funakoshi (1906–1945). Gichin Funakoshi was born in Okinawa and is widely credited with popularizing "karate do" thr ...

became his discipline for 1 year until he switched over to Tae Kwon Do. He was playing football in his hometown team as well as pursuing his black belt in Tae Kwon Do. Corassani graduated fast and was considered a natural talent early on. At the age of 14 he became a Tae Kwon Do black belt to shortly after quit and pursue his football journey. Football became his main focus in life as he played in the highest youth league in Sweden. At the age of 22 Corassani found his way back to martial arts and he began training

MMA Mixed martial arts (MMA) is a full-contact fighting sport based on striking and grappling; incorporating techniques from various combat sports from around the world. In the early 20th century, various inter-stylistic contests took place t ...

. Corassani comes from an academic family and has four sibling who are all doctors. Corassani is vegan. Corassani speaks seven different languages: Swedish, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Persian, Azeri and Turkish.

Career

Early career

In 2005 Corassani started training at a local MMA gym in Gothenburg where he lived at the time. He decided to dedicate his life to martial arts and only four months later he competed in his first grappling tournament where he took a silver medal. Up until his professional debut Corassani had 30 grappling matches and 12 boxing fights. Corassani began fighting professionally in 2007, and traveling all across Europe to compete. In his professional debut fight he challenged the Dutch heavyweight fighter Dion Staring. Corassani had travelled to Holland to corner his friend but heard about Straing's opponent pulling out. Corassani stepped up on the scale as 76 kg as his opponent weighed 102 kg. The fight was titled as an open weight fight. He built a record of 9–3 (1 NC) beating good names before his UFC debut. He moved to New York in 2011 and was a part of Team Renzo Gracie. In US he joined their MMA team coached by

Ricardo Almeida Ricardo Alves Almeida (; born November 29, 1976) is a Brazilian-American former mixed martial artist and current Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu grappler residing in Bordentown, New Jersey. Almeida is a veteran of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, PRID ...

with teammates such as Frankie Edgar, Edson Barboza, Eddie Alvarez, Corey Anderson and

Marlon Moraes Marlon Moraes (born April 26, 1988) is a Brazilian former professional Mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who last competed in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division of the Professional Fighters League (PFL). He previously competed ...

The Ultimate Fighter

In 2011, Corassani had signed with the UFC to compete on The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller. In the first episode, Corassani fought Brian Pearman to gain entry into the ''Ultimate Fighter'' house. Corassani defeated Pearman in the first round via KO. Corassani was selected as a part of Team Bisping, he was the second featherweight chosen for the team (fifth overall). In episodes three through five, Corassani was shown multiple times in altercations with Team Mayhem fighter, Dustin Neace. The two would later be paired in a bout against each other in the preliminary round. During the fight, inside the first round, Neace applied a heel hook submission that looked like Corassani tapped to; however referee Herb Dean did not stop the fight and Corassani was released from the hold. Corassani went on to defeat Neace via a majority decision after two rounds. After the win Corassani moved onto the semi-finals. Corassani was chosen to fight Team Mayhem fighter,

Dennis Bermudez Dennis Ross Bermudez (born December 13, 1986) is a retired American mixed martial arts, mixed martial artist who competed in the Featherweight (MMA), Featherweight division of the Ultimate Fighting Championship, UFC. Bermudez has been a professi ...

, in the semi-final round. The fight would determine who would move into the final round of the featherweight tournament. Though Corassani controlled throughout the fight with effective striking, scoring several knockdowns, Corassani lost the fight via submission (guillotine choke) in the first round. When the referee stopped the fight Akira had lost consciousness and had to be told that he lost the fight.

Ultimate Fighting Championship

Though Corassani lost in the semi-final round, and did not win the show, he signed an exclusive deal with the UFC. He was set to make his debut on December 3, 2011, at

The Ultimate Fighter 14 Finale ''The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller'' is the fourteenth installment of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)-produced reality television series ''The Ultimate Fighter''. The UFC and Spike held open tryouts on March 21, 2011, ...

against Steven Siler. However, after an injury in training camp, Corassani was forced to pull out of the bout and was replaced by newcomer Josh Clopton. Corassani was expected to make his UFC debut in his native Sweden against Jason Young on April 14, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV 2. However Corassani pulled out of the bout due to injury. Corassani won his UFC debut via split decision against Andy Ogle on September 29, 2012, at UFC on Fuel TV 5. A bout with Robbie Peralta, previously linked to UFC 156, was moved April 6, 2013, at UFC on Fuel TV 9, after an illness sidelined Corassani for a time. He won the fight by unanimous decision. Corassani was expected to face Mike Brown on August 17, 2013, at UFC Fight Night 26. However, Corassani pulled out of the bout due to an injury and was replaced by Steven Siler. Corassani faced Maximo Blanco on November 30, 2013, at The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale. Early in the opening round Blanco landed an illegal knee to the head of Corassani when he had a knee and hand on the ground. Corassani was unable to continue, so he was rendered with the victory by disqualification. It was later revealed that the illegal knee had broken his nose in five different places. Corassani faced Dustin Poirier at The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale. He lost the back-and-forth fight via TKO in the second round. He was awarded his first ''Fight of the Night'' bonus for his efforts. Corassani was expected to face Chan Sung Jung on October 4, 2014, at UFC Fight Night 53. However, Jung pulled out of the bout citing a strained shoulder. and was replaced by

Max Holloway Jerome Max Keli'i Holloway (born December 4, 1991) is an American professional mixed martial artist. He currently competes in the Featherweight and Lightweight divisions of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), where he is a former UFC Fea ...

. Corassani lost the fight via knockout in the first round. Corassani fought Sam Sicilia on January 24, 2015, at UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson. He lost the fight via KO in the first round. On January 26, 2015, Corassani announced his retirement from MMA on his Facebook page, finishing with a 3–3 record inside the UFC.

Championships and accomplishments

** Fight of the Night (One time) vs. Dustin Poirier * MMAJunkie.com **2014 April Fight of the Month vs. Dustin Poirier

Mixed martial arts record

, - , Loss , align=center, , Sam Sicilia , KO (punch) , UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:26 ,

Stockholm Stockholm (; ) is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in Sweden by population, most populous city of Sweden, as well as the List of urban areas in the Nordic countries, largest urban area in the Nordic countries. Approximately ...

, Sweden , , - , Loss , align=center, 12–5 (1) ,

, KO (punches) , UFC Fight Night: Nelson vs. Story , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:11 ,

, Sweden , , - , Loss , align=center, 12–4 (1) , Dustin Poirier , TKO (punches) , The Ultimate Fighter Nations Finale: Bisping vs. Kennedy , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 0:42 , Quebec City, Quebec, Canada , , - , Win , align=center, 12–3 (1) , Maximo Blanco , DQ (illegal knee) , The Ultimate Fighter 18 Finale , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 0:25 ,

Las Vegas, Nevada Las Vegas, colloquially referred to as Vegas, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and the county seat of Clark County. The Las Vegas Valley metropolitan area is the largest within the greater Mojave Desert, and second-l ...

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 11–3 (1) , Robbie Peralta , Decision (unanimous) , UFC on Fuel TV: Mousasi vs. Latifi , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 10–3 (1) , Andy Ogle , Decision (split) , UFC on Fuel TV: Struve vs. Miocic , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Nottingham Nottingham ( , East Midlands English, locally ) is a City status in the United Kingdom, city and Unitary authorities of England, unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located south-east of Sheffield and nor ...

, England , , - , Loss , align=center, 9–3 (1) , Paul Reed , TKO (punches) , The Zone FC 8 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 3:28 ,

Gothenburg Gothenburg ( ; ) is the List of urban areas in Sweden by population, second-largest city in Sweden, after the capital Stockholm, and the fifth-largest in the Nordic countries. Situated by the Kattegat on the west coast of Sweden, it is the gub ...

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 9–2 (1) , Graham Turner , Decision (unanimous) , Superior Challenge 6 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 8–2 (1) , Martin Begley , Submission (scissor choke) , Vision Fighting Championship 1 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:28 ,

Karlstad Municipality Karlstad Municipality () is a municipality in Värmland County in west central Sweden. Its seat is located in the city of Karlstad. The present municipality was established in 1971 when the former City of Karlstad was amalgamated with a number ...

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 7–2 (1) , Ivan Buchinger , Decision (unanimous) , Battle of Botnia 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Umeå Umeå ( , , , locally ; ; ; ; ) is a city in northeast Sweden. It is the seat of Umeå Municipality and the capital of Västerbotten County. Situated on the Ume River, Umeå is the largest Urban areas in Sweden, locality in Norrland and the t ...

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 6–2 (1) , Peter Mettler , TKO (punches) , Superior Challenge 4 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:42 ,

, Sweden , , - , NC , align=center, 5–2 (1) , Felipe Enomoto , No Contest (overturned) , Gods of War 5: Empathy , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Baumholder Baumholder () is a town in the Birkenfeld (district), Birkenfeld Districts of Germany, district in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, in the Westrich, an historic region that encompasses areas in both Germany and France. The town of Baumholder is the a ...

, Germany , , - , Win , align=center, 5–2 , Dominique Stetefeld , Submission (arm-triangle choke) , La Onda Fight Night 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Magdeburg Magdeburg (; ) is the Capital city, capital of the Germany, German States of Germany, state Saxony-Anhalt. The city is on the Elbe river. Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor, Otto I, the first Holy Roman Emperor and founder of the Archbishopric of Mag ...

, Germany , , - , Win , align=center, 4–2 , Grzegorz Tredowski , Decision (unanimous) , United Glory 10: The Battle of Arnhem , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Arnhem Arnhem ( ; ; Central Dutch dialects, Ernems: ''Èrnem'') is a Cities of the Netherlands, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands, near the German border. It is the capita ...

, Netherlands , , - , Loss , align=center, 3–2 , Darin Hughes , TKO (punches) , Superior Challenge 1 , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 4:10 ,

, Sweden , , - , Win , align=center, 3–1 , Jukka Kuitunen , Decision (unanimous) , Shooto Finland: Chicago Collision III , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Lahti Lahti (; ) is a city in Finland and the regional capital of Päijät-Häme. It is located in the Finnish Lakeland. The population of Lahti is approximately , while the Lahti sub-region, sub-region has a population of approximately . It is the mo ...

, Finland , , - , Win , align=center, 2–1 , Raymond Jarman , Submission (triangle choke) , United Glory 5: Stronger , , align=center, 2 , align=center, N/A ,

Amersfoort Amersfoort () is a Cities of the Netherlands, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht, Netherlands. As of 31 January 2023, the municipality had ...

, Netherlands , , - , Win , align=center, 1–1 , Jaroslav Poborsky , Decision (unanimous) , Gods of War 1: Rise of the Warriors , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 , Erdesbach, Germany , Welterweight debut. , - , Loss , align=center, 0–1 , Dion Staring , TKO (corner stoppage) , United Glory 3: Upside Down , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 2:52 ,

, Netherlands , Light Heavyweight bout.

Mixed martial arts exhibition record

, Loss , align=center, 2-1 ,

, Submission (guillotine choke) , The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 3:12 ,

, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Dustin Neace , Decision (majority) , The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller , , align=center, 2 , align=center, 5:00 , Las Vegas, Nevada, United States , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Brian Pearman , KO (punches) , The Ultimate Fighter: Team Bisping vs. Team Miller , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 4:17 , Las Vegas, Nevada, United States ,

Amateur mixed martial arts record

, - , Win , align=center, 3–0 , Henrik Olsen , Decision (unanimous) , Shooters MMA: Frederikssund Brawl 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Frederikssund Frederikssund () is a Denmark, Danish town, seat of the Frederikssund Municipality, in the Capital Region of Denmark, Region Hovedstaden with a population of 17,583 (1 January 2025).

, Denmark , , - , Win , align=center, 2–0 , Arash Dastnai , Decision (unanimous) , Shooters MMA: Fightergalla 2 , , align=center, 3 , align=center, 5:00 ,

Odense Odense ( , , ) is the third largest city in Denmark (after Copenhagen and Aarhus) and the largest city on the island of Funen. As of 1 January 2025, the city proper had a population of 185,480 while Odense Municipality had a population of 210, ...

, Denmark , , - , Win , align=center, 1–0 , Arild Skagseth , Decision (unanimous) , Cage Challenge 2 , , align=center, 1 , align=center, 5:00 ,

, Sweden ,

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Corassani, Akira 1982 births Living people Swedish male taekwondo practitioners Swedish male mixed martial artists Iranian male taekwondo practitioners Iranian male mixed martial artists Featherweight mixed martial artists Mixed martial artists utilizing taekwondo Mixed martial artists utilizing Brazilian jiu-jitsu Swedish practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Iranian practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu Swedish people of Iranian descent Sportspeople from Gothenburg Sportspeople of Iranian descent Ultimate Fighting Championship male fighters 21st-century Iranian sportsmen 21st-century Swedish sportsmen